Sport - Cricket

Chopra, Kohli lead Delhi fightback

— Photo: S. Subramanium

COMPLEMENTING EACH OTHER: Aakash Chopra’s watchful play and Virat Kohli’s (left) aggression helped Delhi to a good position against SNGPL.

NEW DELHI: Cricket was not intense but it did produce spells of some engaging stuff as Delhi put up an improved show on the second day of the four-day Nissar Trophy match against Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited at the Ferozeshah Kotla here on Tuesday.

Resuming at 143 for six, SNGPL managed a first innings lead of 132 runs but its bowlers ran into a determined Aakash Chopra and an enterprising Virat Kohli on a pitch that gave little assistance. Chopra was 93 and Kohli 91 with Delhi 242 for one at close, a lead of 110 runs.

Chopra and Kohli presented contrasting pictures of batting. Chopra concentrated on building his innings with a clear target of a big score to herald the new season. He had finished with an impressive aggregate last season and this was just the start he would have wanted after the first innings failure here.

There was not a single hurried movement from Chopra who played some delightful strokes square of the wicket. His confidence stemmed from watching skipper Virender Sehwag cart a sizzling 37 off 29 balls before losing his wicket to an adventurous pull off Imran Ali. The ease with which Chopra hit the ball spoke for his brilliant touch. That he was willing to dance down the pitch to the spinner was an encouraging sign and a throwback to the days when he loved to attack.

His was a blemishless performance which came in for appreciation from coach Vijay Dahiya. “I am happy to see Aakash show the same touch that he had last season,” said Dahiya. Chopra and Kohli put on 196 runs in a flawless manner, gaining in strength with every hour. Kohli attacked at will and ensured there were no alarms like the first innings collapse.

“This is the way he needs to bat. His natural instinct is to hit and he has shown superb form in this match,” said his coach Raj Kumar Sharma. The only indiscreet shot from Kohli was an ambitious cut that flew over gully. Chopra has made his 93 from 146 balls and hit ten 4s, while Kohli took 139 balls for his 91 with 14 fours.

The scores:

Delhi — 1st innings: 134.

SNGPL — 1st innings: Mohammad Hafeez c sub (Chabra) b Nehra 28, Yasir Arafat lbw b Nehra 0, Umar Akmal b Nanda 58, Azhar Shafiq lbw b Sangwan 22, Misbah-ul-Haq b Nanda 9, Khurram Shehzad c Chopra b Nanda 66, Adnan Akmal lbw b Nehra 14, Imran Khalid c Chopra b Ishant 15, Imran Ali c sub (Narinder) b Rajat 36, Asad Ali b Sangwan 8, Adil Raza (not out) 0; Extras (b-4, lb-5, nb-1): 10. Total (in 78.3 overs): 266.

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-56), 3-99, 4-113, 5-118, 6-133, 7-173, 8-250, 9-262.

Delhi bowling: Ashish Nehra 18-3- 70-3, Ishant Sharma 17-3-65-1, Pradeep Sangwan 18.3-1-87-2, Rajat Bhatia 7-3-7-1, Chetanya Nanda 16-8-24-3, Virender Sehwag 2-1-4- 0.

Delhi — 2nd innings: Akash Chopra (batting) 93, Virender Sehwag c Asad Ali b Imran Ali 37, Virat Kohli (batting) 91; Extras (b-10, lb-2, nb-8, wd-1): 21. Total (for one wicket in 51 overs): 242.

Fall of wickets: 1-46.

SNGPL bowling: Asad Ali 14-3-45-0, Imran Ali 11-0-58-1, Adil Raza 5-0-28-0, Mohammed Hafeez 3-0-16-0, Imran Khalid 13-1-65-0, Azhar Shafiq 5-1-18-0.

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